Hose clamp with adjustable closure device



Nov. 20, 1962 L. l. KAPLAN HOSE CLAMP WITH ADJUSTABLE CLOSURE DEVICE Filed Oct. 16, 19 0 FIG. 4.

INVENTOR. LEO .1. KAPLAN FIG.5.

ATTORNEYS.

.1 r .A- t

United States Patent Ofitice 3,%4,3Z7 Patented Nov. 20, 1952 This invention relates to hose clamps and more particularly to an improved high-strength inexpensive closure device specially designed for use with clamping bands having looped ends.

The search for better and more effective devices for adiustably clamping together the ends of hose clamps continues owing to the disadvantages and undesirable characteristics of prior closure designs. A particularly inexpensive and desirable clamp is formed from high strength flat strip material having its opposite ends looped to provide sockets for the closure device. However, the many devices heretofore provided for use with such bands and by which the same can be adjustably secured about a hose or the like are found to be less than satisfactory for various reasons.

To develop the full strength of the band material and to avoid severing the looped ends of the band, it has been found highly important to use larger diameter loops seating trunnion components of corresponding diameters thereby increasing the bearing contact area between the loops and the trunnions. This expedient avoids premature failure of the clamp through severing of the loops but complicates the problem as respects the adoption of an adjustable closure member interconnecting the two trunnion structures seated in the loops.

A popular type of connector has been a T-bolt having its head journaled in one loop of the band and its threaded shank extending through a transverse opening in a second trunnion journaled in the other loop. However, there are major limitations to the low cost production of a T-bolt by cold forging heavy wire stock. No satisfactory forging technique has been developed for forging a head of usable length in a diameter larger than the shank of the bolt. Even when making the head the same diameter as the shank, the head length is appreciably less than that required for full seating contact with the full width of the band loop.

To counteract these limitations it has been proposed to encircle the head of the T -bolt with sleeves of material having the requisite thickness and breadth. While theoretically it should be possible to use as thick strip ,material as desired, yet in practice it is found that it is not feasible to form as thick strip material as is desired without distorting portions of the bolt and while providing a finished product having a satisfactory cylindrical surface for journaling in the band loop.

To overcome these obiections and difiiculties, it has been proposed to employ large diameter washers on the ends of the T-bolt in lieu of the expedient just described. This proposal also presents problems because it is desired that the washers be considerably thicker than the length of the two halves of the T-bolt head, a fact which leads to difficulty in the securement of the washers to the T-heads.

The present invention obviates the foregoing and other shortcomings of the T-bolt type closure device for hose clamps of the type referred to and makes use of the extremely strong but inexpensive eye-bolt in lieu of a T- bolt. Eye-bolts can be fabricated or forged most inexpensively and accurately by known techniques with exactly the proper size to develop the full strength of a given band design. Coupled with the eye-bolt and forming an important aspect of this invention is a simple, inexpensive means for connecting the opposite ends of the eye-bolt to the large diameter looped ends of the band. A highly satisfactory device utilizes specially designed trunnion members capable of being produced at high speed by automatic screw machinery equipment. One trunnion member comprises a flanged, shouldered rivet having a central portion or reduced diameter pivotally seating the eye of the bolt. A flanged washer held assembled over the end of the rivet by swaging or the like completes the trunnion assembly for the pivoting end of the eye-bolt.

The second trunnion comprises a one-piece member having flanged ends seating in a similar manner in the other looped end of the clamping band. A simple sleeve and nut completes the assembly, both being mass produced screw machine parts, as is the second trunnion member.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive, rugged, easily operated closure device for clamping bands of the type having looped ends and wherein all parts are carefully coordinated to develop the full strength of each part and of the band itself.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a hose clamp closure device employing an eye-bolt the opposite ends of which are operatively associated with trunnions of novel construction.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a closure device for a hose clamp utilizing an eye-bolt held permanently assembled in a two-part trunnion member having large diameter bearing surfaces spaced to either side of the head of the eye-bolt.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

FTGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a hose clamp assembly embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view looking radially toward the closure device of the clamp.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 on FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 4-4 on FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 on FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a preferred embodiment of a hose clamp embodying the present invention and designated generally 10. Band 11 of suitable high strength material has its opposite ends formed into large diameter loops 12 and 13 held secured to the main body of the band as by spot welding 14. Each loop is provided with an elongated slot 16 extending along the medial axis of the band and freely accommodating therein the head and shank of the closure device in accordance with conventional practice.

The closure assembly, designated generally 18, comprises an eye-bolt 19 having a threaded shank 20 and an integral eye 21 formed at one end of the shank. Of importance is the fact that the cross-sectional area of the eye and of the shank are designed and selected and coordinated with the strength of the band loops 12 and 13. It will therefore be appreciated that maximum use is made of the strength of both the closure device and the clamp ing band, a factor of the greatest importance in the use of such clamps in aircraft, missiles and the like.

Eye 21 of the eye-bolt is freely journaled on the reduced shank portion 23 of a flanged trunnion 24. The head end of this trunnion is of a diameter journaling freely within the looped end 13 of band 11. Seated against the smaller end 25 of trunnion 24 is a thick, flanged washer 26 held in assembled position by swaging over the rim edges of trunnion end 27. This swaging assembly operation is performed without danger of forcing the washer into clamping engagement with the eye of the eye-bolt by reason of the shoulder between end 27 and trunnion section 23. As shown, the remote rim edges of the trunnion body and of washer 26 are provided with narrow flanges 28, 29, respectively, as an aid in holding the trunnion properly centered between the ends of loop 13. However, it will be understood that these flanges may be omitted if desired since the presence of the eye-bolt in slot 16 serves to hold the parts accurately assembled to the band.

The other looped end 12 of the band includes a onepiece trunnion 31 preferably having the same diameter as trunnion 24 and provided if desired with shallow flanges 32 at its opposite ends to avoid the possibility of the trunnion becoming displaced when the shank of the eye-bolt is disconnected. A transverse bore 34 extends centrally through trunnion 31 and has a diameter slightly greater than that of the eye-bolt shank. Desirably, the outer side wall of trunnion 31 is relieved opposite one end of bore 34, as is indicated at 35, to provide a seat for one end of sleeve 36.

Sleeve 36 is best shown in FIGURE 5, it being noted its opposite side walls 37 are flattened for reception of the sleeve between the edges of slot 16. The remainder of the sleeve is much thicker and sutficient to develop the 7 full strength of the band and of eye-bolt shank 13. Sleeve 36 is sufficiently long to space the adjustable clamping nut 39 away from the exterior of the band regardless of the adjusted position of the closure device. It will also be recognized that the internal bore of sleeve 36 is such as to permit it to slide freely along the threaded portion 20 of the eye-bolt.

The assembly of the described clamp and closure device will be readilyunderstood from the foregoing. It is quite feasible to form the band loops and to secure them in assembled position independently of the trunnion members 24 and 31. If desired, trunnion member 24 may be assembled to the eye-bolt prior to closure of band loop 13. In this event, the assembled closure device 18 is assembled through slot 16 of the loop following which the end of the loop is welded or otherwise secured to the clamp band. Once assembled it will be clear that the eye-bolt and its associated trunnion 24 are permanently secured together. Trunnion 31 may be inserted before or after the closure of loop 12 since this loop may be temporarily deformed suficiently to receive trunnion flanges 32. Once assembled, however, the trunnion can be displaced only by the deliberate disassembly action on the part of the user.

To apply the band, nut 39 or other threaded adjusting member, such as a thumb nut, is removed from the threaded end of the eye-bolt in order that the eye-bolt may be Withdrawn from trunnion 31. The band is then opened and placed about a hose or other member to be clamped. Thereafter shank 19 is inserted through bore 34 of the trunnion and sleeve 36 is applied over the end of the eye-bolt. Nut 39 is then applied and tightened against the outer end of the sleeve pressing the inner end against trunnion 31 thereby contracting the clamp about the hose.

While the particular hose clamp with adjustable closure device herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims,

I claim:

1. A separable closure device for a clamping band of the type having looped opposite ends each provided with an elongated centrally disposed slot and which looped ends are adapted to be pulled into close proximity to one another in the tightened position of said clamping band, said closure device comprising an eyebolt having a threaded shank, a two-piece trunnion assembly comprising an elongated member having a length approximating the width of the looped ends of said clamping band, said elongated member being formed with integral circular portions in end to end co-axial relation to one another and of successively smaller diameters from one end to the other thereof, said circular portions including an axially thin retainer rim at the larger diameter end of said member, a relatively wide large diameter first portion immediately adjacent said retaininer rim, a second or midportion having a rotary fit within the eye of said eye-bolt and an axial width slightly in excess of the transverse thickness of Said eye bolt and a third or smallest diameter portion, a collar member assembled over said third or smallest diameter portion and held thereto by an upset outer end of said smallest diameter portion'and having an axially narrow radially flanged rim effective to hold said two-piece trunnion assembly assembled within one looped end of said clamping band, the exterior diameter of said collar corresponding to the exterior diameter of said first portion and being substantially greater in diameter than the diameter of the shank of said eye bolt and providing large area bearing surfaces with the juxtaposed interior surfaces of the looped end of said clamping band extending through the slot of one looped end of said band and being effective to lock both said eye-bolt and said trunnion assembly loosely journaled in one of the looped ends of said clamping band, a one-piece cylindrical trunnion member flanged at its opposite ends to hold the same assembled in the other looped end of a clamping band, said cylindrical member having a transverse opening therethrough midway between the opposite ends thereof to loosely pass the threaded shank of said eye bolt, a sleeve fitting loosely over the free end of said threaded shank, and threaded means on the end of said shank engageable with said sleeve and effective as tightened along said shank to force said cylindrical mem ber toward the eye portion of said bolt.

2. A separable closure device as defined in claim 1 characterized in that at least one end of said sleeve is non-circular in cross-section and adapted to extend between the sides of the slot in the adjacent looped end of a clamping hand with said one end bearing against the midportion of said cylindrical trunnion member.

3. A separable closure device as defined in claim 2 characterized in that the diameters of the portions of said trunnion assembly and of said cylindrical member in bearing contact with the interior surfaces of the looped ends of said clamping band are at least double the diameter of the shank of said eye-bolt thereby providing wide-area surface contact with said looped ends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

